Wireless CAN Bus Bridge using eStorm-B1 EVK

CASE STUDY SNAPSHOT

Customer : An Indian Automotive Tier 1 with large auto component portfolio
Size : > 200-1000
Project vertical : Automotive
Challenge : Non-intrusively tap into the vehicle's internal CAN network.
Solution : Acquire data via BLE-Enabled Wireless CAN Bridge with eStorm-B1 EVK.
Services & Products Availed :  Rapid prototyping services, Embedded firmware Development, Embedded Application Development
Tools and Technologies :

• Key Hardware: NXP KW36A based eStorm-B1
• Software Development: C
• Frameworks: MCUXpresso IDE
• Peripherals: CAN, BLE etc

INTRODUCTION

An innovative Indian Automotive Tier 1 supplier needed to develop a proof-of-concept (PoC) for a connected vehicle solution. They required a way to wirelessly access, process, and transmit vehicle data from the CAN bus to a smartphone, laying the groundwork for future telematics and diagnostic features.

CHALLENGE

The primary challenge was to non-intrusively tap into the vehicle's internal CAN network, which carries a high volume of real-time data from various ECUs like the instrument cluster and infotainment system. The solution needed to be a compact, standalone device capable of filtering and acquiring specific CAN messages from dozens of IDs simultaneously. It also had to execute proprietary data-processing algorithms in real-time and transmit the results wirelessly via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to a custom mobile application. The final PoC had to be easily transferable from a lab test bench to an actual vehicle using the standard OBD2 port.

SOLUTION

A BLE-Enabled Wireless CAN Bridge with eStorm-B1-EVK

Embien was approached to deliver a rapid and robust PoC for this connected vehicle requirement. Instead of a lengthy ground-up development process, we proposed using our production-ready eStorm-B1-EVK, an evaluation kit for our automotive-grade eStorm-B1 BLE module, to serve as a powerful wireless CAN bus bridge.

Leveraging a Powerful, Automotive-Grade Platform

The eStorm-B1-EVK was the ideal platform for this project. At its heart is the eStorm-B1 module, which is powered by NXP’s automotive-grade KW36A BLE SoC. This advanced System-on-Chip integrates a powerful ARM Cortex M0+ microcontroller, providing all the processing capability needed for the application.

Crucially, the KW36A SoC includes built-in support for automotive-specific interfaces, including CAN-FD. Our eStorm-B1-EVK builds on this by including the necessary power supply circuitry, a CAN transceiver, standard bus termination, and ESD protection diodes. This meant the EVK was, out-of-the-box, a hardware-ready solution for interfacing with a vehicle's CAN bus via a standard 3-pin terminal connector.

Rapid Software Development and Customization

With the hardware foundation in place, our software team focused on implementing the customer's specific logic.

Our rapid progress was made possible by several factors:

1. Optimized CAN and BLE Stacks: The eStorm-B1 platform comes with readily available and optimized software stacks for both CAN and BLE communication. The CAN stack was configured to support CAN 2.0, allowing for precise control over baud rates, time quanta settings, and message buffer allocation. We implemented sophisticated software filters to simultaneously acquire messages from 28 different CAN message IDs, isolating the exact data the customer needed from the noisy bus.
2. Custom BLE Profile Integration: We integrated a custom BLE profile with multiple services and characteristics. Each processed data point was assigned its own characteristic, making it simple for the companion Android application to read and interpret the information.
3. On-Device Algorithm Implementation: A key requirement was to process the raw CAN data using the customer's proprietary algorithms before transmission. Thanks to the KW36A SoC's generous 256KB of user-programmable flash memory, we implemented these complex algorithms directly on the eStorm-B1 module itself. This transformed the device into a truly standalone CAN-to-BLE converter, eliminating the need for any external computer for data processing.

End-to-End Workflow

The final solution operated in a seamless flow:

• The eStorm-B1-EVK was connected to the CAN bus on the customer's test bench, which included an instrument cluster, infotainment system, and a CAN bus analyzer.
• The firmware on the eStorm-B1 listened for, filtered, and acquired the specified CAN messages.
• The onboard ARM M0+ core executed the custom algorithms on the data in real-time.
• The processed, user-friendly data was then transmitted wirelessly via BLE to a custom

Android app, developed by Embien for demonstration, at a one-second interval.

From Test Bench to In-Vehicle Deployment

After successful validation on the test bench, the device was integrated into a car for a final demonstration. We connected the compact EVK to the vehicle's OBD2 connector, drawing power directly from the 12V car battery. The entire PoC, from initial requirement gathering to a successful in-vehicle demonstration, was completed in an astonishing one-week timeframe, with our engineers working onsite with the customer's team to ensure a smooth and successful knowledge transfer.

BENEFITS

The customer gained significant advantages by partnering with Embien:

• Extremely Rapid PoC Development: A fully functional, in-vehicle proof-of-concept was delivered in just one week, dramatically accelerating their R&D cycle.
• Enabled Connected Car Features: The solution provided a direct, wireless channel to vehicle data, enabling the development of modern telematics and diagnostic applications.
• Standalone Intelligent Device: On-device processing eliminated the need for external computers, creating a compact and efficient final solution.
• Use of Automotive-Grade Components: The PoC was built on a reliable, automotive-grade platform, ensuring a smooth transition to a production-ready design.
• Seamless Integration and Support: Embien provided hands-on, onsite engineering support, ensuring the project's success and effective knowledge transfer to the customer's team.

CONCLUSION

This project demonstrates Embien's ability to leverage its powerful IoT platforms like the eStorm-B1 to deliver custom automotive solutions with incredible speed and efficiency. We successfully provided a key technology foundation that enables our Tier 1 customer to rapidly develop and deploy next-generation connected vehicle features. Our expertise in both hardware and embedded software allows us to translate complex requirements into market-ready solutions quickly.

If you are looking to unlock the data in your vehicles or industrial machinery, contact Embien. Let us help you build the bridge to your connected future. leading Consum together.